The 38th film festival in Herceg Novi ended with the awards ceremony at the Kanli Tower. Among the sixty films screened, the Golden Mimosa for Best Director was won by Nikola Ležajić for the film How Come It’s All Green Out Here?, Andrija Kuzmanović won the Golden Mimosa for the Best Male Role for the film Yugo Florida while Anica Dobra and Lea Cok equally shared the award for the Best Female Role in the film White Wash at Ninety. The Zoran Žiković plaque for the best film was awarded to the film The Tower of Strenght directed by Nikola Vukčević, and the FEDEORA award was awarded to the Serbian minority co-production Little Trouble Girls, also supported by Film Center Serbia.
The Golden Mimosa for Best Director was awarded to director Nikola Ležaić, on the grounds of, as the jury explained, his superior direction of the film How Come It’s All Green Out Here?
“Each scene of the film faithfully reflects the personal experiences of the director. The film is deeply rooted in his life and emotions, showing both spoken and unspoken moments with extraordinary subtlety. Its authenticity and poetic storytelling make it a deeply moving reflection on memory, family and home,” the jury’s decision says.
Director Nikola Ležaić, who addressed the audience via video message, said: “I always understand the award for directing as a reward for the whole team, not one person, so thank you to my crew and wonderful actors, thank you to my family and all the moms and dads who stand by their children and encourage them.”
The golden mimosa for the best male role went to Andrija Kuzmanović for his “brilliant role” in the film Yugo Florida.
“He interprets the complex journey of Zoran, showing both vulnerability and resilience. His interpretation of a son who faces family challenges and personal growth makes the film deeply moving,” said Nataša Ninković, reading the jury’s explanation, and then presented the award to Kuzmanović.
Andrija Kuzmanović said: “This is a very important award for me. I grew up in Boka, this is the award I wanted all my life”, and he dedicated the award to Nikola Pejaković and Vlada Tagić.
The Golden Mimosa for the best female role was awarded equally – Ex Aequo – to Anica Dobra and Lea Cok, for the roles of Dada and Bronja in the film White Wash at Ninety.
The “Zoran Živković” plaque – for the best production was awarded to the film The Tower of Strength directed by Nikola Vukčević.
“The jury awards the ‘Zoran Živković’ plaque to the film The Tower of Strength by Nikola Vukčević due to the exceptional quality of the production and the outstanding film creation. The historical setting, the suggestive atmosphere and the humanist message make this film an impressive and unforgettable cinematic achievement,” says the explanation.
Milorad Radenović, producer and director of the film, said the following upon receiving the award: “We worked on this film for eight long years. We dedicate this award to those who are not with us – set designer Stanislav Nikićević, prop designer Goran Živković, actor Bat Dedivanović, wardrobe designer Mila Čelebić and lighting designer Marko Kovačević.”
The FEDEORA Award was awarded to the film Little Trouble Girls, a Serbian minority co-production supported by Film Center Serbia.
“The gentle, deeply humane coming-of-age story of by director Urška Đukić also provides us with a lesson for all generations. And that is that nothing is ever final, that we are all in some way ‘works in progress’ and unfinished. Regardless of how old we are. We liked and were impressed by the actors’ performances, the exceptional economy of the script, but also – fundamentally – really all the other elements of the film. Including the most powerful message of the film: no one has the right to silence you, to silence your voice,” the jury’s decision states.
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